Assange seizes on internal GCHQ correspondence describing his extradition as a ‘fit up’

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has revealed internal correspondence from the government’s eavesdropping agency, GCHQ, which included speculation that a Swedish arrest warrant issued after rape allegations first surfaced was a stitch-up.

Assange revealed details of the correspondence, which he obtained via a subject access request, on Spanish television which he used to share the contents of a series of instant messages.

One message recited by Assange read: “They are trying to arrest him on suspicion of XYZ … It is definitely a fit-up… Their timings are too convenient right after Cablegate.”

The renegade whistleblower remains holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London under constant police watch.

A GCHQ spokesperson said: “We can confirm that GCHQ responded formally to the subject who made the request. The disclosed material includes personal comments between some members of staff and do not reflect GCHQ's policies or views in any way.”